Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his associates may have been involved in the theft of nearly $7.5 billion in state funds. This, according to the Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper, was stated in the report by the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine.

“According to these materials (for the entire period of investigation), the amount of financial transactions that may be related to the legalization of proceeds from criminal activity and may be also associated with other crimes, …

On September 6th, RIA Novosti reported that the U.S. had lifted sanctions against Rosoboronexport contracts regarding the maintenance of Mi-17 helicopters in Afghanistan. Deputy Director General of Rosoboronexport Sergey Goreslavsky said in an interview with RIA Novosti that "the decision was made for two years, but if necessary, may be extended by the Americans." Those restrictions were imposed on September 2nd last year but had been partially lifted on November 25th.

The Director of …

Tallinn accused Moscow once again of violating its airspace. On Tuesday, September 6th. This was reported by the press service of the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces.

According to the Estonian military, an AN-72 aircraft of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation flew into the air space of Estonia without the permission on the evening of September 5th. The plane’s transponder was turned on but the flight plan was not submitted in advance. The plane did not communicate with …

A multinational NATO battalion led by Canada will arrive in Latvia in spring 2017. The Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Canada, Kārlis Eihenbaums, stated on September 6 that the Northern Alliance soldiers will arrive in the Baltic State as soon as the snow melts. The diplomats from other NATO countries also signaled their readiness to deploy forces to deter Russia’s possible offensive operations in the Baltic, Leta wrote.

According to Eihenbaums, all members from the NATO contingent in …

Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Interfax reported.

“The President [Putin] has said that in the interest of implementing the Minsk agreements, if necessary, he would be ready for such contact [with Poroshenko]. And again, for this the necessary conditions must arise, and the necessary homework must be done,” Peskov stated.

The Kremlin’s spokesman recalled that Putin had said …

Syria’s main opposition group, the High Negotiations Committee, has said that it would reject any coordinated strategy by Russia and the US to bring peace to Syria if it were to deviate from the group’s proposed plan, Reuters reported, citing the committee’s general coordinator, Riyad Hijab.

The Saudi and Western-backed High Negotiations Committee’s proposed plan includes a six-month transition period during which a new administration would be created made up of opposition figures, civil …

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported on September 6 that warships from the Russian Black Sea Fleet were brought to the test ranges for the Caucasus 2016 drills. Frigates, small-size missile ships and missile boats were involved in the strategic command-staff drills, Krym.Realii reported.

“The knowledge and practical skills of the commanders of navigation combat units, as well as navigation and maneuvering skills of battle watch officers during fulfillment of dispersal tasks in marine areas …

Germany believes a full-scale Russian offensive against Ukraine to be unlikely but it doesn’t exclude such a scenario, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, stated in an interview with Apostrophe.

“Berlin doesn’t exclude that possibility but believes this scenario to be unlikely. If, God forbid, such an invasion occurs, I’m sure that Ukraine can expect serious strengthening of sanctions against the Kremlin. In addition, the provision of defensive weapons to us would become a …